No Holds Barred - The Chains (NHB)

[7.0] "this is like if XPW was actually run by good people. I think Danny has carved out his own space in the wrestling world as this really does have its own charm outside of the deathmatches. (well I mean production, design and angles) I can respect Demento alot as this feels like where deathmatch wrestlers true home. hell. im pretty sure treemont was here (and H2O) before he won the gcw title. this is also the place where alot of the "cancelled" death match wrestlers go for a second chance. ive seen many come here and honestly be better people, sounds weird but its true. will say that if you can only handle 1 or 2 deathmatches per card, skip cause the while card is usually violent as hell lol I think this would be any dm fans dream company. I never really get bored with the constant violence. they know how to keep it pretty fresh."

[9.0] "one of my top 3 companies in the world right now, and easily the best American deathmatch promotion going, icw nhb always puts on a fun show with great deathmatches, and the whole aesthetic of the chains as the ropes really does help to seperate them from most other companies that do deathmatch shit out there"

[8.0] "So over the last six months or so I've decided to broaden my wrestling horizons (and take advantage of my $110 IWTV subscription) and watch more deathmatch wrestling. Outside of the occasional GCW show it had never really been my cup of tea. I don't mind the blood and guts so to speak, but there was something, I dunno, prudish I had against pure deathmatches, which I now know was unfounded. Ya know, how it's just flabby rednecks mindlessly smashing light tubes over each other's heads, stuff like that. Stereotypes. ICWNHB has really made me realize how mistaken I was, and helped me understand why there's such a die-hard following of the genre. First of all, vibes are very important to me in a wrestling show, and ICW always seems to have the perfect vibe. Always very small or outdoor venues with maybe a few dozen bloodthirsty MF'ers around the ring who enjoy every second and every drop of blood, and their energy is always electric. The signature chains replacing the ropes is such an awesome visual, and just that simple image conveys a real feeling of impending carnage. Secondly, you can tell the talent is passionate and always willing to push the envelope as hard as possible. But not just that, there really is a good amount of psychology that goes into the matches, and the individual matches on a given show are usually pretty different from each other (another misconception I had about the genre for a long time). I wish not so many of the matches were "oldhead beats the shit out of some youngster for 11 minutes" but it's rarely not enjoyable. One thing I'm not a fan of though, and this just seems to be a recurring theme in all modern deathmatch feds (admittedly just from my brief foray into them), is there are so many post-match promos where one guy talks about how great his opponent is and how he's a bad mf'er or whatever and then they hug. Like, I get it, there's got to be a certain very high level of camaraderie between people who perform such extreme cooperative violence on each other, but the back-patting gets a little tiresome. Still, I really enjoy the product and look forward to more shows, especially when they work with other deathmatch feds from overseas."

[10.0] "One of the best independent promotions running today. If deathmatch isn't your thing you probably won't like ICW but if it is your thing this is one the main promotions you'll be wanting to keep your eyes on. They are everything that's missing from GCW and more and have only been getting better this past year. Excited to see how they continue to evolve."

[3.0] "ICW used to be one helluva good promotion, but nowadays, it been pretty much irrelevant. This is mostly due how bad most of the events and matches have been, easily making it one of the hardest falls from grace I've seen in wrestling."

"Shame this promotion has fallen off so much, but it isn't over yet. BritWres is in a resurgence and they're best placed if Scotland can be included."

[10.0] "The haters can hit the bricks. If deathmatch isnt your thing, I get it ICW-NHB isnt for you. For those of us that love deathmatch, ICW-NHB is the best. Deathmatch is all that they do & no one does better. Their presentation is 100% unique. Chains instead of ropes platforms instead of turnbuckles. There is nothing else like it & no promotion does it better. Period!"

[4.0] "ICW has been so irrelevant and painfully mediocre for quite a few years now. There are no good or notable stories, there's only average indy talent producing average matches. Almost a dead promotion in 2023."

"Gives that ECW feel, but a step above it. So much creative mind, so many amazing venues. ICW is where you go when you want a good deathmatch. Some of these guys make you feel like you're watching a horror show."

[10.0] "As a huge deathmatch fan, this promotion gives me everything I could want: a distinct feel - the chains, the pit - a varied roster, from your old-school hack-and-slash to athletic, creative wrestlers, there's something for everyone. You've got a passionate promoter - Demanto - who hypes up the shows, the wrestlers, and everything in between, with aplomb. I love all the graphics you see on twitter, insta, etc., as they really help make the shows stand out from each other. Some of the stand outs: Akira, Kasey Kirk, Krule, and Atticus Cogar whenever he decides to show up."

[10.0] "They managed to take a gimmick and run with it. The chains provide a different feel, less acrobatic and more hard hitting, lots of blood. It's has a more unique roster than GCW, a more underground feel to it as a fight club."

[7.0] "Only have one champion. They can't book proper shpws for financial insufferable. I can't rate it much cuase it Doesn't have good story sense or lines."

[9.0] "Danny Demanto's deathmatch fed where you can watch some good ol' deathmatch wrestling. Reed Bentley! Eric Ryan! Satu Jinn! Watch John Wayne Murdoch murdoch murder an anti-vaxxer; watch AKIRA, Dale Patricks and Hoodfoot steal the show, watch Danny Demanto (the only con of the promotion onscreen and offscreen that is not involving finding and putting over talent) cut Zandig ego trip promos like the carny he is and injuring someone recklessly with a sloppy elbow drop off the rafters and Casanova Valentine stink up the joint. The commentary is good and honest. Unlike GCW, they dont have KG, Janela or Giancarlo killing the product with their genetically engineered cancer aka booking aka LOLCOLONWINS. Just straight deathmatches. Everything you want in a promotion that GCW doesn't have anymore. 9/10 would recommend. "welcummm to EYE CEE DUBYA no holds barred" - the struggles, commentator"

[4.0] "Just your standard deathmatch promotion somewhat lost in the shuffle behind the rise of GCW and in with the likes of H20."

[10.0] "Hands down my favorite promotion going right now. Danny Demanto and his crew, shoutout Struggles, have taken this project, in almost 18 months, from a adrenaline rush Dream Match first show to the most consistent Deathmatch company in the United States. The importance of wins inside the chains, as well as the PitFighter cage, have led to the big dogs actually meaning something in the company. There is a particular energy that flows during these shows, a "try to top this" escalation of intensity and violence, that is addicting, and that usually means a crazy bloodbath with the standard for American Deathmatch wrestling, John Wayne Murdoch, the American Deathmatch Champion. Do yourself a favor, sign up for IWTV and watch the incredible, while short, history of this ICW offpsring."

[9.0] "Some of the best most entertaining shows of the pandemic era. ICW NHB is really on the rise and a promotion to keep an eye on."

[10.0] "When someone asks me what my favourite independent promotion is, ICW No Holds Barred is ALWAYS the first company to pop into my head. The company went from good to great when Danny Demanto took over and the blood and hardcore ultraviolence is now second to none. The fact this company has dug out gems like Alex Ocean and Akira and brought them to the forefront of the deathmatch scene is proof that Danny has a keen eye for talent. Also have to give a shoutout to the Pit Fighter shows they put on before the main Volume shows, they have some great bouts in The Blood Shed. Long Live ICW NHB."

[10.0] "ICW NHB are a great death match promotion. Their shows me remind me a lot of GCW back in 2017 when they used to do near enough full shows of death matches."

[10.0] "The Best American Indy promotion during Covid Time. If you like Ultraviolent, death & hardcore. it's your fed with the H2O"

[9.0] "One of the top hardcore/deathmatch promotions. I would say they are #2 behind GCW. They have originality in that they use chair ropes instead of regular ropes and they also have their Pitfighter series, where they wrestle with weapons instead a rounded MMA-style cage. Ever since the name change to No Holds Barred, Danny Demanto has been putting on amazing shows for them. Moat of their shows are on IWTV and I have really been enjoying them."

[8.0] "After the makeover they became a benchmark for ultraviolent wrestling in America. They were good at managing shows during quarantine and creating innovative shows and concepts."

"The New ICW logo on their Updated Twitter: @ICWisWrestling , Next ICW show is in Queens, NY September 12th 2015 "Enter The Extreme" Card can be found at TeamICW. com I highly recommend this promotion to any wrestling fan that wants to have fun and see real professional action wrestling in New York ;)"